For decades, MBDA has supported expanded trade through minority-owned and operated businesses recognizing that minority-owned firms have the most favorable export attributes of any sector of the U.S. economy. In 2011 MBDA began the formal process of institutionalizing efforts to aid minority-owned businesses globally. With President Obama’s launch of the National Export Initiative, the focus on minority exporters and their ability to support domestic job growth has taken on added importance.

Part of MBDA’s work to increase foreign trade opportunities for minority-owned businesses includes facilitating seminars and networking events at the annual National Minority Enterprise Development (MED) Week Conference. This year’s event will feature a seminar titled “Access to Markets: Leveraging International Opportunities in Emerging Markets”. The workshop will explore Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS) which currently account for more than a quarter of the world’s land area and more than 40% of the world’s population. The increasing demand for consumer goods, coupled with major infrastructure needs in these markets, underscore their potential as key export destinations for U.S. goods and services.

The growing commercial opportunities in the BRICS markets and the best practice models for developing export strategies will be the topic of conversation at the MED Week Conference, December 5-6. The 2012 MED Week Schedule at a Glance[1] is available. To learn more about MBDA’s global business development initiatives, view the Agency website www.mbda.gov[2].